Fwd: Jubilee Act is in the House!

[Jon White]

Hey guys,

This is a great bill that helps release very poor countries from debts that crush them and enslave them to western powers.  The way the payment structures work, the countries will never be able to repay them because the payment can be 1/3 to 1/2 of their GDP.  By comparison, our debt, while way to big, is under 5% of our GDP.  Please lend your support to this bill that could easily be lost in the shuffle of other important but more controversial legislation like health care reform, immigration reform or financial reform.

Jon  

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Melinda St. Louis, Jubilee USA Network <mel...@jubileeusa.org>
Date: Thu, Dec 17, 2009 at 6:23 AM
Subject: Jubilee Act is in the House!
To: j...@northjerseyvineyard.org

Dear Jon,        Our long-anticipated moment has arrived!  Late yesterday, the Jubilee Act (HR 4005) was introduced by Representative Maxine Waters (D-CA), along with Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank (D-MA), Ranking Member Spencer Bachus (R-AL), and seven more Republican and Democrat members of Congress.  This encouraging bi-partisan effort by powerful leaders in Congress is a tremendous holiday gift for our sisters and brothers in the Global South. The bill expands life-giving debt cancellation to 22 additional impoverished countries left out of previous debt relief deals and calls for an end to harmful economic conditions and an audit of past odious and illegitimate debts. Please take thirty seconds to send a message to your Representative asking him/her to sign on as an early cosponsor to the Jubilee Act.    This past year has been tough for many people here at home and around the globe.  The economic crisis pushed 100 million more people into extreme poverty this year and dozens of impoverished countries now face a new debt crisis. This holiday season, the introduction of the Jubilee Act represents a beacon of hope in the midst of these challenges.  To learn more about the Jubilee Act, click here. We passed the Jubilee Act in the House last Congress. Now with powerful leaders from both sides of the aisle as original cosponsors, we are poised for victory once again, but we'll need your help. Please ask your Representative to cosponsor the Jubilee Act today. We've reached this tremendous milestone thanks to all your dedication and support. Already you have written 10,000 postcards to your Members of Congress as part of our Change, Not Chains Campaign. Now is the time for our big push to gain cosponsors and pass the Jubilee Act! Thanks for all you do, and have a blessed holiday season. Melinda St. Louis P.S.  Now that the Jubilee Act is introduced, we have an exciting plan to build support to pass it in 2010.  Jubilee supporters from around the country will participate in Jubilee Action Parties, January 5-15, to build community and plan local actions.  Click here to learn more. Jubilee USA Network | 212 E Capitol St NE Washington DC 20003 | 202.783.3566 Jubilee USA relies on your support to make its effective campaigns possible. Donate Now by clicking here! To unsubscribe or manage your listserv subscription, click here

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Jon White

This nation is affluent and has more than it needs. The realization that what we have is a free gift can deepen our desire to share this gift with others who cry out for help. When we bless the fruits of the harvest, let us at least realize that blessed fruits need to be shared.

- Henri J.M. Nouwen, from his book The Genesee Diary